Charities, Pacific Partnership Deliver To Indonesia

NORTH SULAWESI, Indonesia (June 9, 2012) Capt. Murdock Macdougall (right) of the Canadian Army and Hospitalman Chelsea Craft lift a box of supplies onto the back of a truck at the medical civic action project site for Pacific Partnership on Talaud. (Photo by Kristopher Radder)

MANADO, INDONESIA (NNS) - Forty-seven pallets of supplies weighing more than 13 tons were donated by Project Handclasp and the Latter Day Saint Charities to the city of Manado, Indonesia, June 7, during Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12).

The supplies were donated during a community service event at the Manado City Hall.

"I would like to thank the people of Indonesia for welcoming us here today," said Capt. James Morgan, PP12 mission commander. "It is important for us to give back to the city that has welcomed us so openly during PP12, and to build on the partnerships that are the backbone of this mission."

More than 200 people from host and partner nations attended the event.

Lt. Alex Marin, Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer for PP12, was one of the service members to attend the event.

"The ceremony was absolutely amazing," Marin said. "Almost 100,000 dollars worth of healthcare and educational supplies were donated to the people of Manado, and afterward we were treated to numerous amazing performances."

Musical performances were held throughout the ceremony by multiple groups and included an impromptu collaboration by the PP12 band and local musicians.

"When the bands started playing together, that was by far my favorite part of the day," said Marin. "Hearing the combination of music from our two countries being played was such an awesome way to emphasize the partnerships."

This event is one of many the PP12 team is participating in during their time in Indonesia.

Now in its seventh year, Pacific Partnership is an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission that brings together U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

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